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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

(Because of the wretched state of Red Deer’s pulpit space, it is now, as predicted by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3, the time to ‘pluck up that which is planted…a time to break down…a time to weep…a time to cast away stones’ and even ‘a time to refrain from embracing.’ And it is certainly more ‘a time to speak’ than ‘a time to keep silence.’ Be that as it may, the wrecking ball of negative criticism should be followed by the laying down of truth. To this end, we introduce the sermon sketch as an intermittent blog feature. As the term ‘sketch’ implies, this kind of post, in distinction from the usually lengthy analysis, will be pithy. The source for each sketch will be indicated at the bottom of each post.)

ELIJAH’S APPEAL TO THE UNDECIDED

“How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18.21.)

Introduction. It was a day to be remembered. The lone prophet of the Lord against the 450 priests of Baal. On this hill of Carmel we have three kinds of persons: the devoted servant of Jehovah; the decided servants of the evil one; and the undecided. Elijah addresses his sermon to this last and largest group. And so will I, because most of you are double-minded and undecided too.

(1) The Difference between the Worship of Baal and the Worship of Jehovah. This class of people thought they could worship two Gods. But Elijah informed them that these were two opinions that could not be combined. This class is with us today. Members of this class go to church and then go gambling. But my, serve one or the other, God or the world, already! A woman who fellowships but tattles also, this is the same thing again. A dishonest hypocrite is worse than an open sinner. Take your mask off. One opinion is better than two. Go one way or the other.

(2) The Amount of Time you have to choose between two Opinions. The argument from this crowd is, ‘I need more time to choose.’ But the drought had continued for over three years to convince them to turn to God! You who are trying to be Christian worldlings, how long will you halt between two opinions? You older persons, you young, you boys, you girls—how much time is enough for you? How many sermons and Sundays will you waste? How many plagues and deaths must happen all around to warn you to decide? You might just find yourself in eternity before you make up your mind. The will is bent for evil—that’s the problem.

(3) To Delay is Dumb. These people think that a claim of religion is better than nothing. When they are among the worldlings, they are secretly laughed at for being bad Christians; when among Christians, they are wondered at for being hypocrites. They do not fully enjoy the world; nor do they fully enjoy religion. They have the fears of religion without joy; and too much fear of sinning to truly enjoy the world. They are too good for the world; and too bad for church. Purgatory would be perfect for them, if it existed. Even the damned in hell will laugh at these people, for they will be punished without having gotten all their pleasure.

(4) How it is known that People are Undecided. It is known by an undecided behavior. Know first, that all opinions cannot be right. Then choose an opinion and let your conduct back up it up. Keep your religious claim, or give it up. Choose Baal or God; faith or fun; holiness or filthiness.

(5) Why Decide? Not for happiness. No, like the prophet says, “If God be God follow him.” If you believe the devil is God, then go that way. Carry out your convictions. Never mind tradition and what others do. If the gospel is right, believe it; if not, give it up.

(6) How Long will you Delay? Some have decided; others will hesitate between opinions until the fire of God’s Spirit decides them, or until the fire of eternal judgment.

Selection from Conclusion. “I tell you that you must either be decided by the descent of the fire of his Spirit into your hearts now, or else in the day of judgment. O! which shall it be? O! that the prayer might be put up by the thousand lips that are here: ‘Lord, decide me now by the fire of thy Spirit; O! let thy Spirit descend into my heart.’”

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Mr. Hennig, this is our third and final analysis. We thank you for your interest in our effort to test the word that you preach.

Mr. Hennig, Mount Calvary Lutheran, Untitled Sermon, Mark 7.31-37.

Summary: (He begins by relating the difference between the 20th century generations regarding the technological milieus each has grown up in, his point being that the more recent generations are jaded and desensitized by their immersion from youth into our advanced state of technological use.) We think nothing of sending mail around the world in seconds. We are amazed only when we can’t send an email. Does anything amaze you anymore? Does God amaze you anymore? Are we amazed at what God offers to us eternally? (He summarizes the text.) The crowds who witnessed this miracle Jesus performed were so amazed that they could not stop talking about it, even after being commanded by Jesus himself to keep quiet. Are we amazed like this? We have learned greater things of Jesus than this miracle. But are our tongues not tied up in knots at times? We find it easier to talk about sports or television shows than about the true God. Pay attention to your own conversations. How easy they flow when they’re all about Big Brother or the Eskimos game? We are filled with enthusiasm when these topics come up. But is it that way when the opportunity to talk about Jesus comes about? When it’s about Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, the One who could cure ailments by a mere word, the overcomer of death itself, do we speak with enthusiasm, or even at all? How often do we say, ‘good luck’ when we could confess our faith with a ‘God be with you’? How often do we say ‘don’t worry about it’ instead of ‘I forgive you, for I have been forgiven by Christ’? Has your faith become dull? Does your conscience no longer bother you when you do wrong? Do we justify our thoughts of lust and our gossip about others? Has church attendance and Bible study become a chore? For a cure, there is only one place to go. With just a word, Jesus healed that man. He still heals through his word. This is why you are encouraged to worship in God’s house and to take part in Bible study. Your minds and hearts are opened to him and to his teachings through his powerful word. By the word of his law, Jesus alerts us to our illness. But he does not leave us there. His love is found in a manger, on the cross, and in an empty tomb, and comes to us in baptism, communion, and preaching. With the message of the gospel, he is able to open your hearts. We can be amazed at the world’s offerings, but amazed too at how hurtful the world can be. But on the cross and in his resurrection, Jesus has earned our forgiveness. Jesus has overcome Satan and his ways. There is nothing more amazing than that. And yet the amazing is yet to come. The apostle Paul ascended into heaven and was lost for words to describe it. This heaven is for you. It’s for you because of what your amazing Saviour did.

Remarks: The sermon is Christ-centered and somewhat convicting, with a pastoral touch. The theme that is preached is taken right out of the text. The story used to illustrate the theme is suitable. There is no pulpit horseplay to revolt us. And we can even detect a hint of Spurgeon-like wit in his preaching manner. On the negative side, the pastor seems to give out the same word-for-word benedictions each and every Sunday; for this reason they strike us in a meaningless, tiresome way. And we can testify to this sensation after listening to just three sermons. For certain this is an instance calling for a repetition of the well-known saying, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt.’ That which produces a tendency of contempt for benedictions that approximate Scripture is intolerable. Variety of expression should replace whatever sounds like vain repetition to avoid this upsetting effect. Next, salvation is much declared, but not preached enough, in this sermon. We understand if Mr. Hennig considers himself a pastor addressing a flock full of regenerate persons. But is there no warrant at all for testing the salvation of these church members by warning them of the possibility of their assuming faith without possessing it, or of their relying on church attendance instead of on the merits of Christ, or of their simply believing the pastor’s declaration without any assurance of salvation from God himself? It would not be an easy task to fit such provisos into an address as short as Mr. Hennig is in the habit of delivering. But they are so sorely needed that more space should be allowed the sermon for meting these qualifications out to each kind of listener. With the sermon as it is, a visitor might too easily assume he is safely chosen and sealed for heaven, and a confused soul would be left staring at a pile of doctrines, not knowing what ones, if any, are for him. The only way a sermon like this is safe for all is if all are saved. And such a circumstance has never been presumed by great preachers even at the best of times. Salvation must be more than declared, even when addressing what appears to be a saved crowd. And this declaration must not be focused only on what we are saved to, but also on what we are saved from; this, to the glory of God for the benefit of God’s people when they are made more humble before him by such reminders, but also for the convicting of that soul that we are mistaking for one of our own brood. Because of the importance of that part of the ministry (the pulpit) by which God principally speaks, not just to his people but to those who shall yet enter in, is there no reason to reevaluate the priorities of the church service? Even supposing that each member is truly a kingdom child (a careless and dangerous supposition!), can the members’ wants, concerns, needs, and backslidings be met by a mere sermon introduction? Is there nothing in the service at large that might be shortened in order to give place to a lengthened word from the pulpit? Could not the man the church is named after furnish an example to follow in this matter of pulpit priority? It would surprise us extremely were we to learn that Luther’s preaching took a back seat to anything except prayer. Some of his sermons are indeed brief, which means they are not brief habitually. Is it not possible that Luther’s descendents have passed on to us more ritual than Luther bequeathed to them? We suspect that some little research would prove this to be the case.

Conclusion: We are thankful to know that something more than a pretended sermon containing jokes, worldliness, and heresy exists in our city. But we must not stop at comparing Mount Calvary Lutheran to the circus-churches around it. How would this church compare if it were resituated in another city at some other time? The pastor of this church ought to strive more to fulfill the desires of a people who are hungry for God. And if the people are not hungry yet in this way, or not hungry enough, then what agency other than the pulpit would God use to stimulate the appetite? Besides prayer and the ordinances, much teaching and preaching needs to be done to satisfy hungry souls. God would have a church eating regularly to the full, and then yet hungering after the cup that runneth over. Therefore more preaching is required on Sunday than a fourteen-minute prelude. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the nutritionists tell us. And the great preachers would tell us that the Sunday sermon is the most important meal of the week. Something more than an egg should be served at this meal, then. Granted, the pastor gives an egg, not a scorpion, for the Sunday feast, which is good, tasty, and wholesome. But where are the fish and the bread? So much for quantity. To speak of quality, we might say that there is more milk here than meat. As for strong meat, there is none here at all. This sermon cannot take a new convert much deeper than he has already gone.

Based on the three sermons listened to (we know little about what the rest of the service is like), we could recommend this church to a Christian looking for one. But first we would like to know if Mr. Hennig insists on the necessity of any sacrament for salvation.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Summary: The question is, Did Jesus really live again? In part, a true story is revealed to us in the exceptional way it unfolds. (He tells a true story from his experience to try and show this.) The text is John 20.8, 9. Jesus did live again. For John it’s a growing belief. The story is told that you might believe. It’s true and powerful whether you believe it or not. I invite you to enter into it—see for yourself. Your story matters, but it is invited into this story. What if the disciples had never gone into the grave to see—had never seen for themselves? Enter in at your own point of contact. “Enter in; don’t be bashful about feeling great about who Jesus is and how his story has intersected yours.” I ask you to enter in from this perspective: your story will move forward because of this story. For many of you, your life looks like that of the disciples on Saturday. What happened on that day? It was a setback Saturday. There were stories that seemed to be going nowhere on Saturday. They were following after a Messiah, this idea of a King. All of these teachings and miracles were left hanging. “Where is your story stalled? Where do you seem stuck this morning? Enter in. See for yourself that you might believe.” Did Jesus live again? I’ll answer this question with four answers that unfold in the Bible. (A) Jesus’ resurrection was seen first in the word of God—in prophecy. There was enough evidence to believe in Jesus’ resurrection even before it happened. (See John 2.18-22.) But the disciples couldn’t see it yet. (B) Jesus was seen dead. He actually died, not just swooned, fainted, or passed out. The trial, the pain, the scourging, the crucifixion, the act of the executioner, the embalming, the burial for three days, and the guards posted at the grave all point to an actual death. (C) Jesus was seen alive again. Many who looked to see confirmed this. They saw Jesus. Some touched him. An individual could have an illusion; but a whole crowd will not have the same one. Jesus went out of his way to prove he was alive. You are invited to come and see for yourself. He could command you to just blindly believe. He doesn’t have to be that merciful. He gives reasons and opportunities to investigate. He ate in his resurrected state. A ghost does not eat. The eyewitnesses recorded these things, fulfilling the journalistic standards of today. (D) Jesus’ resurrection was seen, and is seen today, in the transformation of people. Peter, a coward for awhile, turned into a fearless preacher who willingly died for his faith. Jesus’ own family was transformed. The members of this family had thought he was crazy. But because he rose from the dead they ended up worshipping him as their God and Saviour. Jesus’ own enemies, like Paul, turned from being persecutors to Christians. People are changed by Jesus’ life today. His life is imparted to those who believe. In the lives of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, we see faith even before his resurrection. From these instances, do you see the life of Jesus at work from his death? Is your faith delayed? Has it seemed stalled in some way? God’s resurrection life is already at work in your life even before you see its results. Where are you stuck? Jesus’ life is already at work there, on your failed marriage, on your broken relationship, on your illness. The disciples moved from their Saturday of disillusionment to a deeper faith. With Mary, there is this moment when she recognizes Jesus. She enters in. Upon seeing Jesus, her faith is not just moving; it also has a purpose. It has direction. If you’re entering into his resurrection life this morning, there are two directions given to you. The first is, upward to the Father. The other one is outward. Go and tell others. “Jesus is alive today. And his life is bringing faith where there was none, is restoring hope where there was little, and moving our hearts in the direction he wants our hearts to move.” (He finishes with a prayer along these lines.)

Remarks: This sermon is a pleasant surprise, not because we believe it to be a passable address, but because it so far surpasses in every way the first two specimens of his that we have listened to. The question he proposes to give an answer to is, “Did Jesus really live again?” This is well answered. Obviously, some research was done. The sermon is well structured. There are some layers to it. And the application unfolds naturally from the first three points. There is this tactic of repeating, ‘See for yourself.’ This is excellent, though he could have enlarged upon the maneuver. The idea of showing the contrast between a meaningless story and the meaningful resurrection story is good.But by going too much into this meaningless story from the pastor’s life, a comic atmosphere is created and the pastor becomes the center of attention. These things work against the gospel being taken seriously. And it is not true that the truthfulness of a story is necessarily revealed, even in part, by its exceptional nature. He moves on, though, from these early blunders soon enough. He repeatedly presses the listeners to ‘enter in’ without telling them what he’s getting at. But later he puts some content to these pleas by presenting some proofs to be believed. There are some phrases that are borderline inappropriate, like ‘embalming junk.’ This term does not do justice to the fact that the spices were lovely contributions to Jesus by his loyal saints. But he was fumbling around for words to describe the embalming substance, and had to say something. Therefore we won’t make too much of this fault. Next, he says that Paul, even before his conversion, never denied the resurrection. How could the pastor know this for sure? The assertion is probably false, for Saul was a persecutor of ‘the Way,’ which includes this major tenet and fact. Furthermore, it seems difficult to believe that he was not denying this event when he participated in the martyrdom of Stephen. But this is not a cardinal issue. The scriptural anecdote about Peter and John running to the tomb seems mentioned just for fun. This is bad. The incident must be inspired to teach us something, not to make us laugh.

While the sermon is a relief to hear in many ways, there is one significant fault to mention, the consequences of which are extremely terrible. We would call this point: either his use of dainty speech, or his dread of distinguishing between the saved and the unsaved. The proper thing to call this error depends on what comes first: the chicken-like communication, or the egg that seems to have hatched it: his fear. We’ll just call it the fault of dainty speech and work from there. And so, his use of dainty language. That might sound more like a faux pas than a sin. But this faint-hearted communication of his is detrimental. Here is an example of what we mean. In one of his comprehensive invitations that can only be interpreted as going out to the congregation at large and without distinction, he says, “Where is your story stalled? Where do you seem stuck this morning? Enter in. See for yourself that you might believe.” What could be wrong with this? Let’s note right away that a phrase like ‘entering in’ is to the purpose of believing, which invitation is fit for the unsaved; but that those invited by him to enter in he calls ‘stalled’ or ‘stuck,’ which language is fit only for the saved. Speaking to the saved as if they’re unsaved (they are invited to ‘enter in’) is not so bad. But speaking to the unsaved as if they are saved (just ‘stalled’ or ‘stuck,’ and therefore not dead in trespasses) is very bad, about the worst thing a Bible teacher can do, for it causes sinners to think they need therapy instead of the regenerating grace of God. Suffice it to say that he commonly does this: he addresses both the saved and the unsaved without distinction. This is likely the result of his effort to talk in such a fashion that will not cause offense to sinners. He will not single out the unsaved from the saved. This failure to distinguish between the saved and the unsaved is a problem throughout the whole sermon. Some things he says are only applicable to the saved. But he seldom, if ever, lets us know who is being addressed. For instance, without qualification, he says, “Where are you stuck today? Jesus’ life is already at work there.” This is a presumptuous pronouncement unless Mr. Doeksen is a prophet looking someone in particular right in the eye. Here is the same kind of thing again: “Enter in; don’t be bashful about feeling great about who Jesus is and how his story has intersected yours.” Jesus’ story has already intersected with these other stories. How can he say this without qualifying who he is referring to? Is he an inspired prophet? And when he speaks of the day before the resurrection as a ‘setback Saturday,’ this seems, at first blush, to be applied by the pastor to disciples alone, whether those of yesterday or today, for sinners not yet saved are experiencing more than just a setback. So it seems that he’s referring to Christians by this term—Christians who are suffering a setback like the disciples did just before their discovery of the resurrection, saved but cast down, discouraged, and disillusioned. But though the term fits only this segment of the people, he tries to apply it to the unsaved as well, for just after this, he says, “Where’s your story stalled? Where do you seem stuck this morning? Enter in. See for yourself, that you might believe.” Of course, this ‘setback’ language is entirely inadequate to apply to unregenerate sinners who have not yet placed their faith in the risen Lord. They are not suffering a setback, but suffering from a depraved nature that needs much more than encouragement or edification. Does the Bible ever present sinners as being merely ‘stalled’ or ‘stuck’? Is that adequate language to describe souls needing to be saved from the penalty of God’s law? Is it not more true to say that they are dead in trespasses and under condemnation? Sinners need to be born again because they are more than stalled and stuck. They are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2.1.) Jesus said, “He that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3.18.) Does the word ‘stalled’ imply that we need the Saviour who spoke these words? No it doesn’t. And if you’re stuck, do you need anything more than a little push? If you’re dead in sins and condemned to hell, which is the truth of the matter, you need much more. You need the Spirit to regenerate you and Jesus as your Substitute. Your spirit needs new life and a suffering Saviour. The pastor uses the word ‘transformed’ a time or two. This is much better than what the words ‘stuck’ and ‘stalled’ convey sinners need. And he speaks at least once of ‘God’s resurrection life.’ If he means regeneration by that, this is excellent. But what he means we do not know for sure. The words ‘stuck’ and ‘stalled’ are his usual words to describe the need sinners have. These words imply a need that falls far short of what the sinful condition actually requires. The words come across as your needing, not a creative act of the Holy Ghost, but just a little shot in the arm. However: “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN,” the Bible says. The ‘stalled’ and ‘stuck’ speech used by Mr. Doeksen has a Semi-Pelagian ring to it, for according to this weak form of theology, man is not dead in sin, but sick; he needs grace, but not to begin his faith, just to assist it. This Semi-Pelagian remedy exactly agrees with the need connoted by the words ‘stalled’ and ‘stuck.’ People who are stuck or stalled do not need to be saved. This is the point. This is why this dainty speech of his is so dangerous.

Another commission of the same order is this whole idea of our ‘story.’ What does it mean when we say that ‘our story will move forward’ because of Jesus’ story? Whatever it means, it doesn’t mean enough. Having a story that must move forward does not come remotely close to describing the fact that souls are on their way to an eternity of gloom and distress unless they cast their all on Christ. Indeed, we must not move forward at all, but change direction. That ‘our story matters’ just doesn’t come near to relating the fact that we are souls moving forward to an inevitable end of woe unless we embrace by faith the Prince of Peace. And ‘stories going nowhere’ does not begin to state the gravity of the situation sinners are in. Calling the death and resurrection of Christ this other story that we should enter our own stories into undermines the pastor’s effort to get sinners saved because it’s a weak, ambiguous way of presenting the need sinners have to be delivered from sin’s looming penalty. We do not object to calling the resurrection a story. A story is not necessarily a piece of fiction. What we object to is the idea that we are stories that must enter into Jesus’ story. We object to this because it does not do justice to the gravity of sin and to the glory of salvation. And because this idea is a weak, dainty way of presenting depravity and grace, it undercuts the pastor’s effort to urge sinners to cast their souls on Christ for safe keeping. The ‘story’ language weakens the object of the sermon, which is to convince the listeners to enter into Jesus’ eternal love and care.

The four proofs, as strong as they are, have very little incentive attached to them for achieving this end of getting souls to repent and believe. If you want to persuade sinners to ‘enter in’—then you have to speak about what they must leave in order to it, and what will happen if they refuse. You must discard your dainty euphemisms and speak honestly, plainly, directly, and biblically. You have to get down to what sins these people are hanging on to—what treasured habits are barring their entry—what sinful amusements they love more than a rescue from everlasting misery. If the sermon does not come down to this uncomfortable level, the preaching will likely be taken as a pep talk from which to glean strength to labor on in unbelief for another week, nothing more. You are ‘stuck,’ and so the sermon gives you a push. You enter your stalled story into Jesus’ story, and you are moved by it for a little while. This is all these dainty sayings are capable of. If you’re not dead in trespasses and sins, but only ‘stalled,’ then all you need is to get into a story that will move you just enough to budge you out of your rut. But there you are, out of your rut, but still on the broad way that leads to destruction. There’s the danger of preaching with ‘kid gloves.’ Your listeners will not understand the radical change that must be undertaken, both by the Spirit who saves by grace alone, and by the sinner who presses into the kingdom so much as to take it by force with hands emptied of cumbersome sins. In other words, regeneration and repentance must be preached. If a sermon is going to be all things to all people—to a mixed multitude of saved and unsaved persons, as it seems Mr. Doeksen is bravely and properly attempting to achieve here, then distinctions need to be made. And the only way to do that is to speak of the sin nature and of sins particularly on the one hand, and of mortification of sin and the outworking of faith on the other; of initial repentance for some, and of persevering repentance for others. Mr. Doeksen never tells us why Jesus died or why he was resurrected. If sinners are not told these things, why would they feel compelled to enter in? If the incentives for entering in are the remission of sins and an admission into heaven instead of hell, then should these incentives not be included in a message on entering in to Jesus’ life? To get into the reasons for Jesus’ death and resurrection would necessitate a preaching of sin. Are we being too speculative when we suppose that he does not tell us about the incentives because he does not want to preach aspects of the truth that will make his congregation uncomfortable? And why does he not want to make anyone uncomfortable? Because if he does, this will cause discomfort to himself! This sermon is factual. But it is not convicting, for no incentives are given to compel us to believe. That our story will ‘move forward’ is not an incentive. That we will remain in our condemned state forever unless we believe—this is an incentive. He focuses on God being at work on failed marriages, illnesses, and relationships. What about sin? What about the kinds of sin? What about the sin nature? These are the things we need God to work on. These are the things that need to be preached.

Conclusion: Mr. Doeksen should remember the method by which he prepared this sermon so he can imitate that in sermons to come. Then if he can teach and discipline himself to make a distinction in his address between saved persons and the unregenerate crowd, there might be a glimmer of hope. And then if he can bring himself to preach to the unregenerate as sinners in peril instead of disconsolate persons needing a lift, the glimmer might metamorphose into a little flame. If these things are not done, there is no reason to believe that he has been led by God to execute this holy profession he is presently scrambling, and failing, to discharge.

(One’s level of piety, whether devotional or practical, depends much on knowledge being either learned or misconceived. In these analyses we...

WHAT'S IN THE ARCHIVE

In the archive you will find extensive, thorough reviews of sermons delivered by pastors in Red Deer. These reviews, or analyses, are given to represent the content of what is being taught in the churches of this city and the manner in which this is done. Currently, there are over two dozen analyses on this site; they have subjected the pastors of 8 churches to the test of Scripture. Jump into the blog and into your Bible to see how true to Scripture your pastor's teachings and methods are. Scroll down to our book lists, make some prayerful choices from there, and go shopping at Amazon.ca or some place like that. The best books to read are not generally sold at your local Christian book store. Solomon's advice to get understanding is terrible advice to ignore.

TOP TEN BOOKS FOR HARD READERS

(2) HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY (J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNE, 1846)

(3) PENSEES (BLAISE PASCAL, 1669; 1844)

(4) OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE HISTORY (ALFRED EDERSHEIM, 1876-1887; 1890)

(5) EXPOSITION OF THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS (ROBERT HALDANE, 1839)

(6) THE REFORMERS AND THE THEOLOGY OF THE REFORMATION (WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, 1862)

(7) DISCUSSIONS, VOL 3 (R. L. DABNEY, 1892, 1897)

(8) STUDIES IN THEOLOGY (B. B. WARFIELD, 1932)

(9) MEMOIRS OF JONATHAN EDWARDS (SERENO E. DWIGHT, ed., c. 1834)

(10) THE CITY OF GOD (AUGUSTINE, 426)

MANY FALSE PROPHETS ARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD

1 JOHN 4.1

ABOUT WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

WE ARE NOT IMPLYING THAT ALL SERMONS REVIEWED HERE ARE THE WORKS OF WOLVES (FALSE TEACHERS) INSTEAD OF SHEEP (TRUE PROFESSORS.) BUT IF 'MANY FALSE PROPHETS' ARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD, THEY MUST RESIDE SOMEWHERE, AND IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE TO FIND A FEW OF THESE IN RED DEER. THEREFORE OUR WARNING IS JUST, AND THE APOSTLE WOULD APPROVE OUR QUOTING HIM. A WOLF MAY BE DISTINGUISHED FROM A SHEEP BY THE KIND OF GOSPEL HE PREACHES, WHETHER TRUE, OR FALSE. THIS IS THE CHIEF DISTINCTIVE.